Charizine.hk article, March 2014

Tony Giles is blind, with only twenty percent hearing, and has had a kidney transplant. This has not hindered him from travelling alone to 88 countries across seven continents.

Now 35-years-old, as a child Tony was found to have a gene defect. While at special school for the disabled, he discovered his situation was not the worst: some students had limited mobility, or seizures, and his friend was suffering from muscular dystrophy and was slowly dying. Before Tony entered college he suffered a double blow: his friend died, following the death of his father as well.

He studied American Studies at a regular university. This included study abroad in the United States. After this he continued to travel in the States and even as far away as Asia.

He learned to use tactile maps for the blind, touched the edges of buildings (supplemented with lots of climbing, of course), bathing in Colombia and Turkey in a mud bath, excellent indeed leisurely; his sensed and smelt nature going through the jungle in Argentina, and while in the market experienced a variety of odours in Bangkok. He is pursuing a wide range of sensory experiences, and also regularly goes bungee jumping and whitewater rafting.

“Please, see me like this, I’m at ease too!” said Tony, blindness has its own advantages, “Sometimes the person in charge of interest to the average person does not let me into the background, so I have a close contact with the extraordinary treatment!”

Despite being optimistic and cheerful, Tony was also sad and lonely after mourning the death of relatives and friends. Turning to drink as an escape, until 2002, when a friend persuaded him to sober up. Life experiences, such as having his tent stolen in Canada, or in Africa, on the Kenyan border, an area of conflict, taking the winding road in unregistered vehicles to various experiences, such as Ethiopia, also called him unforgettable.

These experiences let Tony know more about the world, he likes to talk with people. There was a Canadian holding on to him preaching, he recalled the man said: “Why do you believe you can not see, do you not trust your own inner power?” Tony? I know, forever trying to live out their dreams, and fulfil the commitments made for himself.

I admire Tony’s courage, his own experience described frankly and honestly, and writing a book to share his experiences. I was happy for Tony: A few years ago he met his girlfriend, Tatiana from Greece, each facing similar physical challenges, and they have travelled together. To Tony I would like to extend my congratulations on finding a good partner to share life with him!